Summer days – both the long, lazy ones, and the stressful work-filled ones – call for cracking open a cold one and sipping it up with those warm, sunny rays our bodies just crave. Unfortunately I always feel a little conflicted when I’m trying to maintain my *slim*, *girlish* (HA!) figure. Does anyone else get bored with the flimsy selection of light beers out there? And if you also find yourself trying to avoid gluten for any of a number of valid reasons, you’re looking at slim pickings, if any. This summer, there’s one thing we can count on as we (wo)man the grill after a morning hill sprint workout, or lounge back to take in the reclining rays at the end of a jam-packed day running here, there and everywhere. It’s Michelob ULTRA Light Cider, and for many of you, this is going to be your little pot bottle of gold this summer. I picked up a six-pack (hint: you’ll probably find it near the ciders, not the beers!) to share with friends during my recent gluten-free bbq. First things first. A toast with my celiac friend Vanessa was long overdue, so what better way to celebrate than with this light cider? I poured the cider into frosty glasses over ice and we tilted them back into the sun. Cider is a popular choice in the gluten-free community because it is brewed with apples instead of barley and hops. If you tend to drink other brands of hard cider either because it’s gluten-free or you just like it (I do, sometimes!) you know that it is usually darker, with a thicker mouth-feel. This light cider is quite the opposite: crisp, refreshing, and cool. More than a just a beer alternative, this cider nicely rivals a crisp riesling or light, sparkly moscato. No doubt, this beverage would be perfect for just about any summer fare, whether it’s time for a juicy burger off the grill or a plate of colorful berries and cheese. It’s quite the little gem! The list of all-natural ingredients including apples and stevia is something I can feel good about, along with the fact that it has just 120 calories per serving – that’s one-third less than typical cider beverages. Lastly, in case you think this is just some fru-fru girly drink (what?! I didn’t make it sound like that at all 😉 ) stop jumping to conclusions: real men drink cider too. Please tell me, Which favorite summer meal or activity do you think would go best with Michelob ULTRA Cider? Disclosure: I had the opportunity to write this sponsored post through my affiliation with the BlogHer Network. I was provided with product to sample and compensation for the post, however, all opinions presented are 100% honest and my own. For more information on this product, please visit the Michelob ULTRA Light Cider Page on Blogher.com and the Sponsor’s site.